Electrjc connector



(No Model.)

G. K. WHEELER. ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

No. 449,721. Patented Apr. 7, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTYS.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE K. IVI-IEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-IIOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CONN ECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,721, dated April 7,1891. Application filed November 26, 1890. Serial No. 372,700. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: age, and owing to the tapering ot the jawsBe it known that I, GEORGE K. \VHEELER, the thickness of metal graduallydecreases a citizen of the United States, residing attoward their freeends, so as to increase their Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof spring action. 5 Illinois, have invented certain new and use- Indevising this connectorI had particuful Improvements in ElectricConnectors, of larly in mind its application to electric-railwhich thefollowing is a specification. way service, in which it is desired toconnect a My invention relates to electric connectors supplementary wireto the rails at intervals, of the form shown in a patent to Edward L. inorder to increase the conductivity of the [a Orcutt, numbered 434,943,and granted Auelectric circuit. I find that it is admirably gust 26,1890, in which a wire is attached to adapted to this purpose and doesnot work a comparatively large and rigid conductor by loose under theconstant jar and pounding to a split tube surrounding the wire anddriven which the rails are exposed. It may, however, 'into an opening inthe large conductor. I be used for other purposes with an equal de- 5 r5 have devised certain improvementsin a congree of advantage.

nector of this character, which do away with What I claim as new, anddesire to secure breakage when driving the connectors into by LettersPatent, is place, and by which the wire is clamped firmly '1. Thecombination of a relatively large in place, but not cut. Theseimprovements conductor, such as a railway-rail, and a wire 20 are shownin the accompanying drawings, to be attached thereto with a connectorconwherein sisting of a tapered thimble or spool having Figure 1 is atransverse section of a rail, a solid driving-head and split for aportion showing a wire attached thereto by my conof its length to formspring-jaws, which are nector. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal secadaptedto clamp the wire when the spool is 25 tions of the connector, taken onplanes at driven into an opening in the conductor, as

right angles to one another; and Figs. 4: and described. 5 show theopposite ends of the same. 2. The combination of a relatively large Inthe views, A represents a conductor of and rigid conductor, such as arailway-rail, considerable size and rigidity, such as a railand a wireto be attached thereto with a cono way-rail, and B is a wire which it isdesired nector consisting of a spool or thimble havto attach firmly tothe rail and at the same ing a solid driving-head, but tapered and timeto eifect a good electrical connection. split at opposite-points for aportion of its This is accomplished by a spool or thimble length, so asto form spring-jaws of less thick-' of metal C, which has a bore ofsubstantially ness of metal than the head for clamping the 35 uniformdiameter throughout, a solid uncut wire when the spool is driven into anopenportion D at one end constituting a drivinging in the conductor, asdescribed. head, and two spring-jaws EE, tapered away 3. A connectoradapted to unite a wire from the head and formed by splitting the with arelatively large and rigidconductor, spool at opposite points, as at F,for a porsuch as a railway-rail, consisting of a metal 40 tion of itslength. To attach the wire to the spool having a bore of substantiallyuniform rail, it is first passed through an opening size, a solid uncutdriving-head, and tapered bored therein. Then the spool is passed overclamping-jaws formed by splitting the spool its free end and driven intothe opening with at opposite points for a portion of its length,considerable force. This causes the springas described. 45 jaws E E toclamp the wire firmly, thus both In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset holding the wire in place, so that it cannot my hand this 10th dayof November, 1890.

readily work loose and at the same time esv i 1 tablishin g a goodelectrical connection, which GEORGE K W HEELER' does not becomedeteriorated by oxidation. Witnesses:

50 As the head of the spool is uncut, it can be T. J. WILLsON,

driven into the rail with littledanger of break- H. J. SINCLAIR.

